The Heron's Nest: Silence is deafening on O'Hara

It’s now been a week since the principal at Cardinal O’Hara High School was dismissed. The silence is deafening.

Marie Rogai now has a lawyer, but not before firing off a broadside questioning just about everything about her firing, from the Cardinal O’Hara Advisory Board to the archdiocese, to Superintendent of Secondary Schools Carol Cary.

Just for good measure, in the letter sent to the entire O’Hara community she identified a prominent member of the advisory board who she claimed had made repeated unwanted ‘physical advances’ toward her, and that she had informed O’Hara President William McCusker of that situation to no avail.

It turns out those advances weren’t sexual, but apparently the man placing his hand on her shoulder, which she didn’t care for.

The man, who we did not identify, got a lawyer of his own and fired off his own letter to the archdiocese, categorically denying her claims.

Rogai still wants to know why she was fired, and claims she has been given no documentation for the move, despite reports that some parents had complained about her to the advisory board.

I continue to hear from readers on both sides of the issue. I’ll say this, there does not seem to be much in the way of a middle ground here, people either are staunch supporters of Rogai, or they couldn’t be happier that she is gone.

I decided maybe the best way to air both these sides is to have them both sit down with me for a session of ‘Live From the Newsroom.’ That’s our live-stream webcast on DelcoTimes.com that we do each Wednesday night from 7-7:30.

I have requests in to both sides. I’d love to have someone from the archdiocese on to give their side, whether it be Superintendent Cary, O’Hara President Bill McCusker, or maybe some members of the O’Hara Advisory Board. They have remained strangely silent on all this.

So far I have not heard back from the archdiocese.

I also have a request in to Daniel McElhatton, the attorney who represents Marie Rogai. He said he would consult with his client.

I’ll let you know as soon as I hear.

Do you have questions you’d like to see aired on this issue, either for the archdiocese or Rogai? Email them to me at editor@delcotimes.com and I’ll present them during tonight’s show.

If there is a show. Keep your fingers crossed.

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Good news and bad news on transportation funding

You can forget SEPTA’s Doomsday Plan.

They’re not going to shut down the regional rail lines. Not that they ever were. But I have to give credit to Delco guy Joe Casey, the general manager at SEPTA, for doing something that certainly got people’s attention.

It now appears as if our fearless leaders in Harrisburg have thought better of taking a pass on a measure to pour $2.3 billion into the state’s transportation system, including roads, bridges and mass transit.

This despite two different votes in the House Monday night to reject the plan. The third time was the charm, with the House passing the plan with a 104-95 vote, much to the chagrin of state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, from western Pennsylvania, who flat out calls the plan a $2 billion tax hike. Metcalfe might not be especially welcome in the governor’s mansion this holiday season, after ranting on the House floor yesterday about “Corbett’s tax hike.” The governor - from his own party - probably does not appreciate that sentiment seeing as how he is looking at a decidedly uphill re-election fight next year.

One of the biggest proponents of the plan was our own state Rep. Nick Micozzie, R-163, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee.

The plan will now be considered again by the Senate. They are likely to pass it and send it along to Gov. Tom Corbett.

That’s the good news. Our roads and bridges are crumbling. They need to be fixed.

Here’s the bad news. It’s not going to be cheap.

For starters, we’re all going to be paying more at the pump. One of the key funding mechanisms in the bill is lifting the decades-old oil franchise tax.

I’m told that it likely will push prices at the pump higher by a nickel as soon as it’s implemented, and that before it’s over gas will be 28 cents a gallon higher.

You also will have to dig deeper when you go to register your car and renew your license. Those fees are going up.

And you might want to back off the gas pedal, and not just to save gas. If you have a lead foot, you’re going to pay more for speeding and other traffic violations. Those fees are going up too.

The key for this region was the big boost in funding for mass transit, in other words, SEPTA. It means another $475 million for mass transit, which Casey said we would be used to immediately start working on crumbling bridges and other infrastructure.

Good thing. With the price of gas, we might all be using mass transit.

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‘Live From the Newsroom’ tackles the Eagles

Oh, sure, just as the Eagles get red hot, the NFL schedule makers tell them to take the week off.

So what’s a frustrated Eagles fan to do? Rake leaves? Not a chance.

Never fear, ‘Live From the Newsroom’ is here to fill your Eagles angst.

Tonight I’ll be joined by beat writer Bob Grotz and columnist Jack McCaffery as we dissect the Eagles’ unexpected 6-5 start, good enough to lead the NFC East.

But what happens in the final five games, a tough stretch that sees them host the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, while traveling to the Minnesota Vikings and winding up the season at the Dallas Cowboys on the Sunday after Christmas, very possibly with a playoff berth at stake.

What do you think has been the key to the Eagles’ success?

What grad would you give the Birds and rookie coach Chip Kelly?

Where do you think the Birds will wind up?

Is Nick Foles the read deal as a franchise quarterback?

We’ll talk about all these and get the answers.

Email me your Eagles questions to editor@delcotimes.com and then log on tonight at 7 and take part in our live chat at 7.

In honor of Thanksgiving we’ll be dissecting the Birds on ‘Live From the Newsroom.’ Why not join the conversation!

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A few gripes before we pause to give thanks

Next week we will pause to offer thanks.

For now, I have a few gripes I’d like to offer.

It is not even Thanksgiving yet, and I’m already being bombarded by my personal vote for the most aggravating ad ever produced.

Show of hands? How many of you know anyone who has ever received a Lexus with a big red bow on it for Christmas?

Thought so.

Every time I see that ad, I am filled with self-doubt and question my worth. Maybe that’s the point. I guess that’s why it’s a good ad.

Now if they really wanted to send me into a fit of Nirvana, they’d find an old ‘66 Chevy Super Sport, lime green with mag wheels. It was my first car. I bought it for $500.

It didn’t come with a red bow on top.

It came with 90,000 miles and a fading generator.

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About the Author

Phil Heron is editor of the Daily Times. He writes a weekly column and a daily blog, The Heron's Nest. Reach the author at editor@delcotimes.com
or follow Phil on Twitter: @philheron.